Breeding Cichlids... At Least I Think They Are About To

[Derpeder]

I think it is an Aulonocara (Peacock) species or perhaps a Trematocranus (Butterfly) species, I'm not sure exactly but this is a picture of it.

What is happening is that they (the brown ones, which I think are the females {I also have two blue that I think are the males}) are diggin holes, like little bass beds, in the gravel and gaurding it like crazy. I have 4 (two blue and two brown) of them and they range in size of 2 to 2.5 inches. Are they getting ready to breed.

and if so what do I do when they do breed, and what are other signs I can tell they are breeding?

thanks ya'll

peace out

 

[freddyk]

Aulonocara are mouthbrooders and females are typically not territorial and it's the male who would traditionally set up the nesting site. They're all small now, small enough that you can't even be sure the females are females - they could be dubdominent males too. You'll know they've bred because the the females throat will be swollen with eggs and she'll stop eating.

 

[Derpeder]

Okay thats cool.

So are you saying that they are too small to breed?

Lets say that they do end up breeding. will I need to take the little babies out of the tank? in the tank are the four of the ones in the picture as well as two yellow labs.

None have stopped eating although I did notice that one of them I was told was a female is really slow to eat. all the others will eat eat eat and then she will just kinda calmly swim over and suck in a few bites here and there. Is that a sign?

thanks

 

[freddyk]

It's possible. Sometimes they'll snack here and there, but it's usually not until later in the holding period. If I had to guess I'd say she's just a bit more shy, but you never really know - just keep an eye on her and see if anything develops.

If you want to raise the fry then you can move the female to the holding tank until she spits. Once the fry are swimming you can remove her to the main tank and raise the fry seperately.